The Aloe Tree
Posted at 9:42 am July 5, 2006 by Seth Menser
The day started like many June mornings in San Diego: foggy, calm, and mild. The Galapagos tortoises, some twice as old as me, slowly ate their breakfast. The Komodo dragons slept in their warm enclosure. All was status quo on Reptile Mesa at the San Diego Zoo; all were unaware of the impending new additions that would soon join them.
The largest of the newcomers hails from Africa and weighs in at a hefty 14,000 pounds (6,350 kilograms), so big that it requires a special crane to place it in the enclosure that will soon be home to a variety of African lizards. What reptile could possibly weigh that much? Well, it is not a reptile at all; it’s a decades-old aloe tree. And while it’s not the star attraction of the enclosure, it is sure to turn heads.
Aloe trees Aloe bainesii are succulents native to South Africa that can grow to 70 feet (21 meters) there. In Southern California, they can reach 30 feet (9 meters) after many years. While most people have heard of aloe vera and have used it for its medicinal purposes, many are surprised to learn that there are over 300 species of aloes.
Planting such a large tree requires a lot of planning, coordinating, and, of course, a very large hole! The Herpetology Department and the Horticulture Department worked together to make it all happen smoothly. To compliment the centerpiece tree, we also planted many smaller aloes in the exhibit. Several dump trucks of soil were required to ensure a healthy growing medium, and the irrigation needed to be plumbed in. Many steps were taken to create an environment that was appealing to both the reptiles and our visitors.
The work was hard, but at the end of the week, tired and exhausted, I didn’t hear one person complain. After the dust settled, all I heard was people talking about how satisfying it was to be a part of a collaborative project that was so rewarding.
Seth Menser is a gardener at the San Diego Zoo.
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July 6th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Seth, what a beautiful addition to your exhibit; it will give a natural and more pleasing look to the landscape. What a great way to recycle a tree from one place to another. Great job to all!
July 6th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Seth,
Very nice description, setting the stage for the new addition of plants. It made me feel as if I was there.
July 10th, 2006 at 10:50 am
I visited reptile mesa Saturday morning and was so pleased with the beautiful new aloe tree and all the smaller aloes around it. Is this aloe the one they call a dragon tree? Really beautiful. I can’t wait to see it once again populated, and hope the animals (moniter lizards?) will enjoy their new surroundings. A great job by you and the other horticulturists!
Editor’s note: The dragon tree you’re thinking of is called Dracaena draco and is in the agave family. Visit our Web site’s Plants and Gardens section for more information.